Modeling of Molecular Interaction between Apoptin, BCR-Abl and CrkL - An Alternative Approach to Conventional Rational Drug Design

Panigrahi, Soumya and Stetefeld, Jorg and Jangamreddy, Jaganmohan R. and Mandal, Soma and Mandal, Sanat K. and Los, Marek (2012) Modeling of Molecular Interaction between Apoptin, BCR-Abl and CrkL - An Alternative Approach to Conventional Rational Drug Design. PLoS ONE, 7 (1). ISSN 1932-6203

[img] [English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (1MB)

Abstract

In this study we have calculated a 3D structure of apoptin and through modeling and docking approaches, we show its interaction with Bcr-Abl oncoprotein and its downstream signaling components, following which we confirm some of the newly-found interactions by biochemical methods. Bcr-Abl oncoprotein is aberrantly expressed in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). It has several distinct functional domains in addition to the Abl kinase domain. The SH3 and SH2 domains cooperatively play important roles in autoinhibiting its kinase activity. Adapter molecules such as Grb2 and CrkL interact with proline-rich region and activate multiple Bcr-Abl downstream signaling pathways that contribute to growth and survival. Therefore, the oncogenic effect of Bcr-Abl could be inhibited by the interaction of small molecules with these domains. Apoptin is a viral protein with well-documented cancer-selective cytotoxicity. Apoptin attributes such as SH2-like sequence similarity with CrkL SH2 domain, unique SH3 domain binding sequence, presence of proline-rich segments, and its nuclear affinity render the molecule capable of interaction with Bcr-Abl. Despite almost two decades of research, the mode of apoptin’s action remains elusive because 3D structure of apoptin is unavailable. We performed in silico threedimensional modeling of apoptin, molecular docking experiments between apoptin model and the known structure of Bcr- Abl, and the 3D structures of SH2 domains of CrkL and Bcr-Abl. We also biochemically validated some of the interactions that were first predicted in silico. This structure-property relationship of apoptin may help in unlocking its cancer-selective toxic properties. Moreover, such models will guide us in developing of a new class of potent apoptin-like molecules with greater selectivity and potency.

Item Type: Article
URI: http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/477
Item ID: 477
Keywords: apoptosis; article; cancer cell culture; cell proliferation; chronic myeloid leukemia; computer model; controlled study; cytotoxicity; down regulation; drug design; enzyme activity; enzyme inhibition; enzyme phosphorylation; genetic transfection; growth; human; human cell; leukemia cell; molecular docking; molecular interaction; molecular model; plasmid; protein binding; protein domain; protein function; protein localization; protein motif; protein phosphorylation; protein structure; quantitative structure property relation; sequence homology; signal transduction; survival
Department(s): Medicine, Faculty of
Date: 10 January 2012
Date Type: Publication

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over the past year

View more statistics